Telephone system



(No Model.\ 6 SheetsShe et"1.

A. W. ROSE. TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

Patented Oct. 5,1897.

(No Model.) I 6 Sheets-Sheet 3.

1 A; W. ROSE. TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

Patented Oct. 5, 1897.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 4. A. W. BOSE.

TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

Patented Oct. 5,1897.

6 Sheets-Sheet 5.

(No Model.)

A. W; ROSE. TELEPHONE $YSTEM.

Patented Oct. 5, 1897.

'IIII IGIIIII SIS-1111.

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m: "cams PETERS 50., PHOTO-LITNO, wASHiNGTON, a. C4

6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

(No Model.)

' A.- W. ROSE.

TELEPHONE SYSTEM. No. 591,011. Patented Oct. 5,1897.

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@MHQN Nrre STATES ATENT Fries.

ALL 1V IV. ROSE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 591,011, dated October 5, 1897.

Application filed Oc be '7, 1896. Serial No. 608,100. (No model.)

To aZl whom it mlaxy concern.-

Be it known that I, ALLEN \V. ROSE, a citizen of the Dominion of Canada, residing in the city of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Telephone Systems, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

This invention relates generally to the apparatus, including electrical connections, em ployed in operating telephone systems, or, in other words, in providing for direct telephonic communication between any one subscriber to an exchange and any other subscriber, and more especially to that portion of the system or apparatus employed which is located in the central office or telephone-exchange.

IIeretofore in establishing a telephone-exchange it has beendeemed necessary with the existing forms of apparatus to make provision at the outset for as many subscribers as it is thought that the exchange may be likely to have for a considerable period, thereby occasioning at the outset a much larger expenditure of money than is absolutely required and necessitating the provision of much apparatus which is not used for a long time, if at all. Then if more subscribers are subsequently obtained than were provided for originally it is necessary to rebuild and rearrange the old apparatus, if not to replace it entirely with new. Having these difficulties in question in mind, I have sought to 0bviate them entirely by providing apparatus of the general character-which shall be capa-.

ble of extension or enlargement from time to time as new subscribers to an exchange are obtained, even if obtained in small numbers, thereby reducing to a minimum the expense of establishing the exchange and making it possible to obtain additional apparatus as required. I have further sought to make it practicable to connect with a single exchange a much larger number of subscribers than has been regarded as possible hitherto, at the same time both reducing the number of open ators required to attend to a given number of subscribers and reducing and simplifying the work of each individual operator, thereby insuring for the subscribers a better, quicker, and generally m ore satisfactory service. Incidentally to these main features of improvement I have sought also to improve the system or apparatus in various particulars, as will more clearly appear hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, in which I have illustrated an embodiment of myinvention, Figure 1 is a general diagrammatic view of the apparatus or equipment of a central station or exchange adapted for a large number of subscribers. Fig. 2 is a view, largely diagrammatic, showing a portion of the connections and indicating devices for two subscribers and a single operator. Fig. 3 is a continuation of Fig. 2, representing in a similar manner the connection of two subscribers telephones through one of the distributing-boards to the primary operators apparatus represented in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing a slightly-different arrangement of the means for changing the connections on the operatofis strip.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a complete cabinet or operators board, which em---- bodies some features of the invention. Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the board shown in Fig. 5, some of the operators strips being removed to show the contacts below the same. 7 is a side view of one of the operators strips. Fig. 8 is an end View of two of the operators strips in the relative position which they occupy in the board. Fig. 9 is a side View of one of the subscribers strips partly broken out and showing a slightly-different form of the connection device from that represented in Fig. 2. Fig. 10 is a front view of the rear bar of an operators strip to show the contacts thereon. Fig. 11 is a rearview of one of the subscribers connection devices on a larger scale than Fig. 9.

Referring first to Fig. 1, which indicates the general arrangement of the apparatus in' primary board, as I find that with my improved system or apparatus a single operator can easily take care of that number of subscribers. Each one of the separate subscribers connections of the primary board A is connected by wires (indicated at a) to a similar subscrilwrs connection in a distributingboard B, which contains as many subscribers connections as there are in the entire group of primary boards A A connected with it. From the distributing-board B connection is made to the subscribers telephones either directly or through a trunk-board O, which may be desirable in a very large exchange. By means such as those described hereinafter connection is readily effected by the primary operator between any two subscribers whose instruments are connected to one and the same primary board, but if a subscriber who is connected to one primary board desires to talk with a subscriber who is connected to another board the primary operator who is called, instead of attempting to effect connection with the subscriber who is called, speaks to the operator at the distributing-board B through her operators telephone, and under the directions then given the distributing operator effects the desired connection at the distributing-board, leaving the primary operator free to attend to other calls. The distributing operator is thus not in direct connection with the subscribers and attends only to such calls as come from the primary operator. Means whereby the various connections required and the operation of the clearing-out indicators, &c., can be effected will be more fully described hereinafter.

The frame a of each primary board A (see Figs. 5 to 11)) is adapted to receive and support a number of subscribers strips a which are preferably substantially vertical, and a corresponding number of operators strips a each one of these strips, preferably of wood, being Wholly independent of the other strips of the set and beingremovable from the frame With the parts carried by it. Each subscribers strip carries a number of sets, preferably ten, of subscribers connections or devices whereby any one subscriber can be brought into circuit, such devices being represented in Fig. 2 at D and being fully described hereinafter.

Each operators strip a carries the plugs E and F, by which connection is made with the subscribers lines substantially in the usual manner, two ringing keys- E and F to correspond with the plugs E and F, and a combined call-off key or clearing-out indicator and listening-key G, all of these parts being secured to the strip a and removable therewith. To facilitate such removal, no

fixed connections are formed between any of these parts and the leading-wires of the board, but upon the under side of eaehstrip are secured in requisite number contacts l 2, 3, 1 ,5 6, 7", 8, 9*, and 10, which are connected to the several parts above named, as will be described hereinafter, and are adapted to hear, when the strip is in place, upon other contacts l 2*, 3, 4 5 6", 7*, 8, 9 and 10", corresponding in number and in position, which are connected to the leading-Wires, &c., as will also be described hereinafter. Similarly, contacts 1, 2 3?, and 4 are secured to the rear side of each subscribers connection .device D and are adapted to bear upon corresponding contacts 1, :2, 3 and M, which are connected to the line-wires and to the distributing-board, as hereinafterdescribed. In this manner the connections for the parts carried by each strip are so formed that by simply removing the bar a each operators strip, with its parts, can be removedfrom the board and can be replaced instantly by another strip, and by withdrawing each subscribefis strip and removing the back bar a each subscribers device D can be removed Without disturbing the others, whereby repairs can be effected at any time without any interference with the use of the board. Moreover, there are no Wires to be disconnected within the board, Wherefore much labor and time are saved.

It Will be understood that the distributingboard is made up in the same manneras the primary board, as alreadydescribed, each operators stripv and each subscribers strip carrying its own parts independent of the rest and being independently removable; but it will not be necessary to illustrate and describe the distributing-board in detail herein.

It will further be evident that by the described construction the danger of crosses on a board islargely, if not wholly, obviated.

In order that the several features of my invention may be readily understood in their relation to one another, I will proceed to describe as briefly as possible the varions connections by which communication between different subscribers is effected, as the same are shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Two subscribers telephones are represented at 1 and 1 in Fig. 3; but as the connections for each one are the same this description will be confined to the connections for the telephone 1. wire makes connection with the spring 2 of. the,corresponding subscribers connection de- From the telephone the linevice D of the distributing-board B. This spring 2 rests normally upon a post 3, which ,is connected. by a Wire through contacts 1 l of the primary board with an insulated contact 4, carried by the spring 7 of the indicator D, thence, under normal conditions, from the contact 5, through the coils of the indicator-magnet d, to the frame 6, spring '7, Wire 8, and post 9, through contacts 2 2, and wire 10, bushing 11, and nut. 12 of device D' and I wire 13 back to telephone 1. The operation of the subscribers generator energizes the magnet of the indicator, attracts the armature, and releases the indicator.

From the operators ringing-battery 20 conuection is made through the humor and a wire 21, including contacts 3* 3, and spring-contacts 21 21 open until closed by the operation of the ringing-key E, wires 22 23, contacts 1 l and wire 24 to the core of the operators plug E. The insertion of the plug by the operator in the proper bushing thrusts back the indicator 25, at the same time making contact with its stem, which pushes the spring 7 back, making contact between the insulated contact 4 (2h) and the post 27. The latter is connected with the frame 6, which has connected thereto the bushing 28. The contact 4, (26,) as already described, is in connection with the subscribers telephone through post 3, and connection is also formed with the other side of the subscribers telephone from the spring 7, as already described. Wherefore when the plug E is inserted in the bushing its core 24 and its shell 29 are brought in circuit with the subscribers telephone. From the shell 29 of the plug E connection is made by the wire 29*, contacts 2 2 wire 29*, spring-contacts 3O 31, normally open except when the ringing -ke y E is pressed by't-he operatm', wire 3L, contacts 4: 4 and wire 31* to the other side of the battery 20. This brings the subscribers telephone into circuit with the ringing-battery, so that the operator can ring the subscribers bell.

hen the operator desires to converse with a subscriber already connected in the manner described, the combinedcall-off and listening key G is depressed to its full extent, thereby bringing the contact-springs 40 41 into contact. Spring 40 is connected through wire 40, including contacts 6 o With one side of transmitting-battery 40 the other side of the transmitting-battery 40 From the operators telephone connection is made in the secondary ortelephone circuit on one side by wire 43, including contacts 7" 7", to spring 4-3. By the operation of the key G contact is closed between springs 43 and 4-1, and the latter is connected by wire 44 22 23 (M through contacts 1 l and line 24 to the subscriber in the manner already described. From the return-wire 29" and the contacts 2 2 connection is efiected through the wire 29 (45,) spring 30, wire 46, through the coils of the call-off magnet- 47, wire as, spring 48, spring 4%), (this contact being closed by the operation of the listening-key G,) wire 49, including contacts 8 3", to the other side of the operators telephone, thereby bringing the operators telephone and the subscribers telephone into circuit and permitting the operator to converse with the subscriber. It is ringingkeyl in the same manner that plug E iis connected to the ringingkey E and The other spring 41 is connected by wire il including,

that the contact l 'forms a common point between the connections to the two plugs, so that provision is thereby made for bringing two subscribers into communication by the use of the two plugs.

It will be observed that when two subscribers are in communication they are cut off entirely from the operators telephone andthe common wire except when the listening-key G of the strip corresponding to the two plugs in use is pressed by the operator, so that there can be no confusion. When the subscribers have finished their conversation and hang up their telephones and ring off, the call-off magnet 47, which is then in circuit, as already described, is energized and attracts its armature, which has been in engagement with a catch g on the stem g of the key G,'and permits the key to be thrown up to the full extent, thereby calling the operators attention to the fact that the two subscribers have finished their conversation.

It will be observed that the armature of the call-off magnet 47 does not interfere wit-h the downward movement of the key G to the position necessary to effect the closing of the contacts before referred to, and also permits the key to rise from its extreme lower position to an immediate position, which allows the contacts to close. Accordingly the functions of the ordinary call-off key and of the ordinary listeningkey are combined in a single device.

It will be observed, further, that if a subscriber fails to ring off and the operator tests the line such test will be confined to that particular line and does not extend throughout the board, so that it is impossible for any other operator to break in and interrupt between any two circuils, these circuits being then isolated from all other connections except those of the one operators strip through which they were connected.

When the distributing operator is called upon to connect two subscribers, plugs are employed, as well as call-off, listening, and

ringing keys, in the manner already described with reference to the. primary board. The connections not already described whereby this, result is accomplished are as follows: From the battery 50 connection is made, through a buzzer by a wire 51, to a contactspring 52. adapted to be moved, by the insertion of the plug in the bushing 11, before referred to, into contact with a post 53, which is connected by a wire 54 with a post 55 in the indicator D of the primary board. A second post 56 forms an open contact with post 55, which is adapted to be closed by thespring 7 when the plug is inserted in the connection device D of the primary board, The circuit is continued by the wire 57 to a contact-spring 58, which makes contact, when the plugis inserted in the deviceD, with a post 59,, connected by a wire 59 with the other side of the battery 50, whereby if the lineot' the subscriber called for through the distributing op- IIC erator should happen to be busy the operator will be advised of that fact by his buzzer, which is included, as described, in a circuit closed when the subscribers connection device D in the primary board is in use, and when the distributing operator inserts the plug in the subscribers connection device D of the distributing-board. If the line is not busy, the distributing operator permits the plug to'remain in the bushing. The thrusting inward of the stem 61' of the device D breaks the circuit between the spring 2 and the post 3, before referred to, and brings the subscribers telephone 1 into circuit on one side through the contact of the stem (1 with the end of the spring 2 and on the other side through the connection of the wire 13 with the bushing ll. No further description of the connections of the distributing-board is necessary, as in other respects they are the same as those already described for the primary board.

The connections represented in Fig. 4 are substantially the same as those represented in Fig. 2, the main difference being in the means by which the ringing-keys E and F are made to effect the desired changes in the connection. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 2, the ringing-key E being taken as an example, the stem 6 of the key is provided at its lower end with a cone or wedge c, which when moved between the springs 2l and 30 by the operation of the key forces the said springs respectively against the springs 21 and 31 and breakscontact between the spring 30 and the end of the wire 46. In the construction shown in Fig. a the stem 6 of the key E carries a block 6 of insulating material, upon which are mounted the springs 21 and 30 and a contact 46 to which the wires 22, 29 and 4b are respectively connected. Fixed contacts 21 and 31, having the wires 21 and 31" connected thereto, respectively, are mounted upon a fixed bar 6 so that by the depression ofthe key contact is effected between the contacts 21 and 21" and between the contacts 30 and 31 and is broken between the contacts 80 and 46 The subscribers connection device shown in Figs. 9 and 11 operates in substantially the same manner as that shown in Fig. 2, the arrangement of the connections being slightly different. The spring e is in connection with the con-tact 1 and normally rests upon a contact 5 which is connected, through the coils of the indicator-magnet d, base-contact 6 spring 7 and wire 8 to contact 2. The stem 9 of the indicator has a head 9*, which when the plug is inserted comes into contact With the spring 7 thereby breaking the contact between said spring 7 X and the base-contact 6 and bringing the core of the plug into circuit through its contact with the stem 9*. At the same time the spring 4? is pushed from the contact 5 by the insulated end of the stem 9 and is pushed against the back contact 4, and the shell of the plug is thereby brought into circuit through the frame 6 of the connection device and a wire 5. For the purposes of the test from the distributingboard two springs 55 and 56 are connected, respectively, to the contacts 3 and 4 and are bridged, when the plug is inserted, by the head 9 of the stem 9, which is arranged to make contact with both of said springs.

The mode of use of the several features of my invention will now be readily understood without further description herein.

It will be'obvious that the details of construction and arrangement which have been shown and described herein for the purpose of enabling my improvements to be more readily understood may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I do not desire myinvention to be limited to such details.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a telephone system the combination of a frame, an indicator having a stem sliding in said frame and insulated therefrom, a magnet having an armature to control said indicator, a back contact for said stem, circuit connections to said frame and said back contact, a plug having separate contacts for said frame and said stem respectively, separate line connections to said frame and back contact respectively and separate connections to the contacts of said plug, whereby upon application of said plug to said frame the connections to the plug are brought into circuit with said line connection substantially as shown and described.

2. In a telephone system the combination of a frame, an indicator having a stem sliding in said frame and insulated therefrom, a magnet having an armature to control said indicator, a spring-contact operated by movement of said stem, a fixed contact against which said spring-contact normally rests, a connection from said fixed contact to said magnet,circuit connections from said frame and spring contact, a plug having contacts for said frame and said stem respectively and connections to the contacts of said plug, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a telephone system the combination of a frame, an indicator having a stem sliding in said frame and insulated therefrom, a magnet having an armature to control said indicator, a spring-contact operated by movement of said stem and insulated therefrom, a fixed contact against which said spring-contact normally rests, a connection from said fixed contact to the frame through said magnet, a second fixed contact against which said spring contact is pushed by the movement. of said stem, a connection from said second contact directly to said frame, a back contact for said stem, circuit connections from said springcontact and said back contact, a plug having contacts for said frame and said stem respec-' tively and connections to the contacts of said plug", substantially as shown and described.

1. A telephone exchange opcrators table comprising a frame, a series of strips mou nted upon said frame and independent of each other, call-off, listening and ringing keys supported by each of said strips and connections for said keys, whereby each of said strips with the keys carried by it may be removed inde pendently of the other strips, substantially as shown and described.

5. A telephone-exchange opcrators table comprising a frame, a series of strips mounted upon said frame and independent of each other, call olf, listening and ringing keys mounted upon said strips, contacts carried by each of said strips and connected to said keys, and contacts fixed upon said frame to correspond with the contacts of each of said strips, substantially as shown and described.

6. In a telephone system, the combination .of normally open contacts connected respectively to the subscribers circuit and to the operators telephone, a key movable to close said contacts and to operate as a visible signal, and a magnet included in the subscribers circuit to control the movement of said key as a visible signal, substantially as shown and described.

7. In a telephone system, thecombination of normally open contacts connected respectively to the subscribers circuit and to the operators telephone, a key movable in one direction to close said contact and in the opposite direction to operate as a visible signal, a spring to move said key in the last-named direction, and a magnet included in the subscribers circuit to control the movement of said key under the influence of said spring, substantially as shown and described.

8. In a telephone system, the combination of normally open contacts connected respectively to the subscribers circuit and to the operators telephone, a key movable longitudinally in one direction to close said contact and in the opposite direction to operate as a visible signal, a spring to move said key in the last-named direction a catch fixed to said key, and a magnet included in the subscribers circuit, the armatureof said magnet engaging said catch to retain said key against the action of the spring, substantially as shown and described.

9. In a telephone system, a primary board, a distributing-board, subscribers connection devices on each of said boards, connections from each subscribers circuit to the connection devices of the primary board through the connection devices of the distributingboard, a normally closed contact included in said connections, a normally open circuit from each connection device of the distributingboard to each connecting device'of the primary board, means to close said circuit and to open said normally closed contact by the insertion of a plug in each of the corresponding connection devices, and a signaling device included in said circuit, substantially as shown I and described.

contacts closed by the initial movement of the stem, a circuit from said contacts normally open at the primary board, means to close said circuit at the primary board by the insertion of a plu g in the corresponding connection device, and a signal device included in said circuit, substantially as shown and described.

11. In a telephone system, the combination of subscribers circuits, corresponding subscribers connection devices, plugs and connections in pairs for connecting different subscribers, the plugs of each pair having a common connection and being normally wholly independent of the line or subscribers circuits, an operators telephone normally disconnected entirely from the subscribers circuits,- normally open contacts connected with the subscribers circuits and the operators telephone, a spring-pressed key to close said contacts, a catch to retain said key against full return by said spring and a magnet included in the subscribers circuit to operate said catch and release the key, substantially as shown and described.

12. In a telephone system, the combination of a subscribers circuit, a pair of normally open contacts, an operators telephone having its primary coils connected in circuit with said contacts, a second pair of contacts normally open connected respectively to one side of the secondary coils to the operators telephone and to the subscribers circuit, and a third pair of contacts normally open connected respectively to the other side of the secondary coils of the operators telephone and to the other side of the subscribers circuit, and means for closing all of said normally open circuits, substantially as shown and described.

This specification signed and witnessed this 5th day of October, A. D. 1896.

ALLEN IV. ROSE.

In presence of I W. B. GREELEY, ALFRED W. KIDDLE. 

